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Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

I've said it before and I will say it again. Ray Rice should be used as an extension of Joe Flacco in the passing offense, much like Marshal Faulk was used as an extension of Kurt Warner. Let Pierce be your power back.

"When questioned, the Elders explained that they were in search of magical powers. However, they're actually searching for the whereabouts of a certain ring. This ring is a legendary treasure that long ago was known to exist"

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

Originally Posted by The Excellector

I've said it before and I will say it again. Ray Rice should be used as an extension of Joe Flacco in the passing offense, much like Marshal Faulk was used as an extension of Kurt Warner. Let Pierce be your power back.

Originally Posted by NCRAVEN

Rice makes guys miss in the open field. Pierce seems to do a lot of that at the line. Both are good, but I like Rice in the passing game and Pierce in the run game this week.

Agree with both posts. It doesn't play to Rice's strengths to lineup in I form and run dive plays. You put Rice next to Joe in shotgun and get the ball to Rice in space much like what Warner did with Faulk. I'm not saying Rice can't have success running in a 2 back set, but he's definitely been better in a 1 back set. If you wanna go power, put in Pierce.

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

Originally Posted by Purpleguy

I love Pierce, and his play really makes me wish we didn't back the Brinks truck up to sign Rice. I think Rice is an awesome person, but just not a great power runner. He is great in open space, but is he millions of dollars better than Pierce? The RB position is much easier to plug and play with in today's NFL.

It's the good thing we have both. We wouldn't be where we are w/o Rice. Before the POs teams keyed on stopping
Rice, not Joe. That opened outside routes for Joe to Boldin in the POs.

I love PIerce too. He's been great back up and we'll have the best 1-2 RB punch in the game for years to come.

Also, as far as not paying Rice, we let Priest HOlmes go because we couldn't afford him and Jamal. Ravens kept
Jamal who promptly led us to SB but Priest signed with KC where he became the greatest runner in NFL after
Dick Vermeil changed the blocking schemes to accommodate his slashing style of running which is similar to Rice's.

I would hate to see same thing happen again by letting either Rice or Pierce go.

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

Agree with both posts. It doesn't play to Rice's strengths to lineup in I form and run dive plays. You put Rice next to Joe in shotgun and get the ball to Rice in space much like what Warner did with Faulk. I'm not saying Rice can't have success running in a 2 back set, but he's definitely been better in a 1 back set. If you wanna go power, put in Pierce.

I agree, sort of. Rice isn't terrible between the tackles. He's had some big runs and solid gains shoving it up the gut.

But he's even better being used similarly to Faulk with the Rams or Thurman Thomas with the Bills in their heyday.

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

I'm not sure what's changed with Rice but it just seems like holes are bigger when Pierce is in there. He takes the carry and he's off and it's like he just strides through to the next level. Even though Pierce is more of a pure/power runner Rice is money on the goal line. He rarely has a run for a loss and I think with all that meat on the goal line you don't know where he's going to cross at (look no further than his run in the AFCCG).

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

Rice's TD run up the middle in Denver with Leach knocking his man out to spring Rice in was a thing of
beauty. Denver couldn't even see Rice til it was too late and don't forget his receiving. He's a dangerous
weapon catching the ball as we have seen in the play offs.

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

Pierce has been outstanding as of late, but let's not get carried away. Raves Offense runs (no pun intended) through Ray Rice. He'll need ~20 touches for the Ravens to bring this Lombardi back to B-More. RR getting his carries will open up that passing game and let Flacco be Flacco.

However, I can see this SB with Rice/Pierce playing out like the Colts/Bears SB a few years back - where for the Colts, Dominic Roads (sp?) out gained Joseph Addai on the ground.

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

I think that Pierce is the better RB period. He will also be a good receiver given the opportunity. Pierce is stronger, more patient,and has a more deceptive running style. He exlodes a little faster through the hole. I wouldnt be SHOCKED to see Rice traded at some point in the future. Love to see both in the backfeild at the sametime, maybe in the SB!!! Pierce's vision and patience is great. He sees a hole and hits it hard, he doesnt see one he waits a split second with good footwork. HE WAS TEMPLE'S OFFENSE.

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

Originally Posted by Shambla

I'm not sure what's changed with Rice but it just seems like holes are bigger when Pierce is in there. He takes the carry and he's off and it's like he just strides through to the next level. Even though Pierce is more of a pure/power runner Rice is money on the goal line. He rarely has a run for a loss and I think with all that meat on the goal line you don't know where he's going to cross at (look no further than his run in the AFCCG).

Its instinct and patience. Cant be taught. Thats why the holes look bigger. He bolts when he sees it, and waits for one to open with a move to create one.

Re: High Praise for Bernard Pierce

Originally Posted by Boulderraven

I think that Pierce is the better RB period. He will also be a good receiver given the opportunity. Pierce is stronger, more patient,and has a more deceptive running style. He exlodes a little faster through the hole. I wouldnt be SHOCKED to see Rice traded at some point in the future. Love to see both in the backfeild at the sametime, maybe in the SB!!! Pierce's vision and patience is great. He sees a hole and hits it hard, he doesnt see one he waits a split second with good footwork. HE WAS TEMPLE'S OFFENSE.

Ozzie said if Pierce went back to Temple for one more year, he would have been drafted in the 1st round in next years draft.

That's pretty high praise and great value for a 3rd RD RB. Nicely done by the Ravens.